Games, Learning & Society Conference
Encyclopedia
The Games, Learning & Society academic conference
, or GLS conference, is an annual gathering of academic researchers, video game developer
s, and government and industry leaders in Madison, Wisconsin
, to discuss the social significance of gaming culture
. Specifically, they examine how games can be used to transform how people learn and what implications that knowledge has for society. According to the official website, the conference's stated mission is to foster substantive discussion and collaboration among academics, designers, and educators interested in how videogames - commercial games and others -- can enhance learning, culture, and education.
School of Education, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Pearson PLC
, the Morgridge Institute for Research
, Filament Games
, and SCE, the Susan Crown Exchange.
, a conference center inspired by the design of Wisconsin architect Frank Lloyd Wright
.
GLS 2.0http://www.glsconference.org/2006/ happened from June 15th and 16th in 2006 at the Monona Terrace
.
GLS 3.0http://www.glsconference.org/2007/ happened from July 12th and 13th in 2007 at the Monona Terrace
.
GLS 4.0http://www.glsconference.org/2008/ happened from July 10th and 11th in 2008 at the Monona Terrace
in Madison, WI. The first Real Time Research session that was introduced at the conference by Eric Zimmerman
, Constance Steinkuehler
, and Kurt Squire
. The participants in this session met at the first session on first day to make a small group for designing a small and quick research that can be finished during conference time. The participants met at the very last session on last day and reported their research results.
GLS 5.0http://www.glsconference.org/2009/index.html took place on June 10-12th in 2009 at the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
GLS 6.0http://www.glsconference.org/2010/ took place on June 9-11th in 2010 at the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. The main themes for the 2010 conference were formal & informal science literacy, media production & identity, and game design & learning. Speakers included Henry Jenkins
, Drew Davidson, Allan Collins, David Wiley, Kurt Squire
, Reed Stevens, and Rich Lemarchand.
GLS 7.0http://www.glsconference.org/2011/ took place on June 15-17th in 2011 at the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. New content was added for the 2011 conference including Well Played, Hall of Failure, and the Games and Art Exhibition. Speakers included Eric Zimmerman
, Eric Klopfer, Katie Salen
, and Michael Levine.
The conference chair is Constance Steinkuehler
.
Academic conference
An academic conference or symposium is a conference for researchers to present and discuss their work. Together with academic or scientific journals, conferences provide an important channel for exchange of information between researchers.-Overview:Conferences are usually composed of various...
, or GLS conference, is an annual gathering of academic researchers, video game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
s, and government and industry leaders in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, to discuss the social significance of gaming culture
Computer and video game culture
Video game culture is a form of new media culture that has been influenced by video games. As computer and video games have increased exponentially in popularity over time, they have caused a significant influence upon popular culture. This form of entertainment has spawned many fads. Video game...
. Specifically, they examine how games can be used to transform how people learn and what implications that knowledge has for society. According to the official website, the conference's stated mission is to foster substantive discussion and collaboration among academics, designers, and educators interested in how videogames - commercial games and others -- can enhance learning, culture, and education.
Sponsors
GLS is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
School of Education, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It is "driven by the interests and passions of the Gates family"...
, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Pearson PLC
Pearson PLC
Pearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird...
, the Morgridge Institute for Research
Morgridge Institute for Research
The Morgridge Institute for Research is a private, nonprofit biomedical research institute in Madison, Wis., affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
, Filament Games
Filament Games
Filament Games is a Madison, Wisconsin based educational video game developer founded in 2005 by partners Daniel White, Daniel Norton, and Alexander Stone. The company is most well known for their series of civics games launched by Sandra Day O'Connor for iCivics, her civics-education initiative...
, and SCE, the Susan Crown Exchange.
Past Events
The first conference was held in 2005, and took place at the Monona TerraceMonona Terrace
Monona Terrace is a convention center on the shores of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin.-Controversy:...
, a conference center inspired by the design of Wisconsin architect Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
.
GLS 2.0http://www.glsconference.org/2006/ happened from June 15th and 16th in 2006 at the Monona Terrace
Monona Terrace
Monona Terrace is a convention center on the shores of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin.-Controversy:...
.
GLS 3.0http://www.glsconference.org/2007/ happened from July 12th and 13th in 2007 at the Monona Terrace
Monona Terrace
Monona Terrace is a convention center on the shores of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin.-Controversy:...
.
GLS 4.0http://www.glsconference.org/2008/ happened from July 10th and 11th in 2008 at the Monona Terrace
Monona Terrace
Monona Terrace is a convention center on the shores of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin.-Controversy:...
in Madison, WI. The first Real Time Research session that was introduced at the conference by Eric Zimmerman
Eric Zimmerman
Eric Zimmerman is a game designer and the co-founder and CEO of Gamelab, a computer game development company, which is known for the game Diner Dash. Each year Zimmerman hosts the Game Design Challenge at the Game Developers Conference...
, Constance Steinkuehler
Constance Steinkuehler
Constance Steinkuehler currently holds a position as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President. For this position she advises on national policy decisions relating to the impact of video games and also how play relates to learning...
, and Kurt Squire
Kurt Squire
Dr. Kurt D. Squire is an associate professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Director of the Games, Learning & Society Initiative, best known for his research into game design for education....
. The participants in this session met at the first session on first day to make a small group for designing a small and quick research that can be finished during conference time. The participants met at the very last session on last day and reported their research results.
GLS 5.0http://www.glsconference.org/2009/index.html took place on June 10-12th in 2009 at the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
GLS 6.0http://www.glsconference.org/2010/ took place on June 9-11th in 2010 at the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. The main themes for the 2010 conference were formal & informal science literacy, media production & identity, and game design & learning. Speakers included Henry Jenkins
Henry Jenkins
Henry Jenkins III is an American media scholar and currently a Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism, and Cinematic Arts, a joint professorship at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and the USC School of Cinematic Arts...
, Drew Davidson, Allan Collins, David Wiley, Kurt Squire
Kurt Squire
Dr. Kurt D. Squire is an associate professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Director of the Games, Learning & Society Initiative, best known for his research into game design for education....
, Reed Stevens, and Rich Lemarchand.
GLS 7.0http://www.glsconference.org/2011/ took place on June 15-17th in 2011 at the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. New content was added for the 2011 conference including Well Played, Hall of Failure, and the Games and Art Exhibition. Speakers included Eric Zimmerman
Eric Zimmerman
Eric Zimmerman is a game designer and the co-founder and CEO of Gamelab, a computer game development company, which is known for the game Diner Dash. Each year Zimmerman hosts the Game Design Challenge at the Game Developers Conference...
, Eric Klopfer, Katie Salen
Katie Salen
Katie Salen is a game designer, animator, and design educator. She is a professor in the DePaul University College of Computing and Digital Media. She has taught at Parsons The New School for Design the University of Texas at Austin, New York University, and the Rhode Island School of Design...
, and Michael Levine.
The conference chair is Constance Steinkuehler
Constance Steinkuehler
Constance Steinkuehler currently holds a position as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President. For this position she advises on national policy decisions relating to the impact of video games and also how play relates to learning...
.